I'm Certain I Would Die Without Music And People

January 6, 2007

At the risk of sounding cliché: music is a necessary therapy…a language. Sometimes, the only way I can feel like I’ve expressed myself is by listening to music. Sometimes, like now, there is nothing that soothes me…besides music (sometimes, not even music works.) But, sometimes, all I can do is close myself in my room and create a list of songs to play on my computer…songs that fit my mood…it might be the music or the words or the melody, harmonies. Music tells things. My therapy menu for these present hours started with “Steal My Kisses,” re-done by Ben Harper, followed by “Back in the Day,” by Erykah Badu; “Summer Breeze,” re-done by Jason Mraz, “Shiver,” by Coldplay, “Gravity,” by John Mayer, “Butterfly,” and, “I Am Not My Hair,” by India Arie. I wish I could find words to tell what this music says for me right now, in this moment.

I’m forcing myself to clean out my closet, go through old clothes, wash laundry. My step son and grand daughter are coming over. I want to hide. That’s all I want to do is hide. I want to soak in a bubble bath for days. I want to ignore the spinning of the planet. But, I’ll force myself to hostess them. I’ll force myself to interact. Because, without people, are we really alive? I could move into a cabin on the top of a mountain and never have contact with another living being, human or otherwise…..would I survive? Would I feel alive?

I’ll force myself to go on because I know this is only one moment. And, as I write this sentence, John Mayer starts playing, “Everything is Not Broken.” I love his music so much. I feel like I have an intimate, personal relationship with it…like his music is a living, breathing entity. I like all kinds of music and many different artists but, he’s the one that almost always satisfies whatever mood I’m in.

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Aw that's nice. Oh I liked that song by India arie ! Music and songs expressive. Mskes u feel good, flying high. Living without people can be alright for a few days but for eternity? I'd go mad that's for sure.

Music is how I survive! I think I really needed to read your comment about people, however. I decided to stop using social networks because of people's drama and everything. I think to myself "Come on people we're 15" (Obviously it's people my own age) There isn't much for us to complain about so it gets repetitive and I became fed up. I was contemplating becoming completely antisocial. But after reading your story I thought twice about that idea. Thank you!

You know , i never really thought about the prospect of never being able to listen to music, AND i am deaf in my right ear, however it seems i hear better with one ear than most people do with one. Not being able to listen to music, would not only in and of itself be horrible, i believe that music brings our world together, without music, it would be like without life.

I've Have spent a part of my life so far removed from he rest of the world that I left it for music. I felt like I had all the feelings and emotions inside of me that I could here through the music. I felt really empowered and felt like I was almost being led in my thoughts and my path. In time I got so sad and realized the love that i had in my mind was just in my mind. I've been so lonely and when i tried to seek out my family and friends I was so distant I couldn't even feel the love anymore. I had grown cold and judgemental. I know I love everyone I just cant seem to repair the relationships that i had neglected. A song will make me feel more compassion than life it just doesn't make sense to me. it's like i feellike i'm loving someone more when they're not there. But i know it can't be . People need real touch real voice real smell real love . My mind seems to get reality confused with illusion of itself. My heart still wants to live But my mind seems to have wanted to leave

I've Have spent a part of my life so far removed from he rest of the world that I left it for music. I felt like I had all the feelings and emotions inside of me that I could here through the music. I felt really empowered and felt like I was almost being led in my thoughts and my path. In time I got so sad and realized the love that i had in my mind was just in my mind. I've been so lonely and when i tried to seek out my family and friends I was so distant I couldn't even feel the love anymore. I had grown cold and judgemental. I know I love everyone I just cant seem to repair the relationships that i had neglected. A song will make me feel more compassion than life it just doesn't make sense to me. it's like i feellike i'm loving someone more when they're not there. But i know it can't be . People need real touch real voice real smell real love . My mind seems to get reality confused with illusion of itself. My heart still wants to live But my mind seems to have wanted to leave

I love how so descriptive you are with music! I am the exact way somethines I wish I can lay in bed and listen to different genres of music or play my guitar and write music all day in my room. and john Mayer is basically a must his music justifys how you feel. every song is a song that is for someone in the world that's going through something! it fits with someone

i agree with everyone...music is a medicine...for me there is no way i could survive if music was ever taken away! i listen to most types of music and have songs for whatever mood I'm in. I think Shawn Mullins (favourite songs: Faith, Shimmer, All In My Head, Blue As You) Don McClean (fav songs: Vincent, Castles in the Air, Empty Chairs and of course American Pie) Rob Thomas (fav songs: Ever the Same, Smooth, All That I Am) are all great songwriters but there are so many that I love. Music makes the world go round!!! :)

Truly music is a medicine. So it can be used to cure, to bring relieve, to bring joy etc. But people started having problem with good things like music when they get addicted to it. So for everything in life I believe we need self control. shouldnt allow it to be in control but you should be in contro.

i like john mayer too. i know how you feel about him, because i feel that exact same way about bob dylan. when i listen to his music--it feels so intimate, like he is right there in the room with me. sometimes i'm just amazed by the fact that music moves you. and say someone is talking or some loud event is going on in the surrounding area of me and i hear a song i love, somehow through all that chaotic noise, i can still hear the music. i guess it's selective hearing. it's the same thing as only seeing what you want to see, you only hear what you want to hear. a million people can hear the same song, and get different ideas of what it's trying to say. a song is an idea with an open-door for perception.

I agree, music is therapy, AND a mood setter. My mom got pulled over last yr. for speeding. She was doing the speed limit until Steppenwolf came on with Magic Carpet Ride!! lol. Something else I find facinating... children at a very young age start discriminating what TYPES and sounds of music they like. My daughter used to get crazy excited by 4 months old to " Buttermilk Biscuits " by Sir Mix-A-Lot! My 3 yr. old wants country music or me<x>tallica!! Music is also becoming a proven possitive help-instrument for autistic children! So, turn up the tunes folks, it may become the NEW Medicine!!!